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How to Check Your Tire's Air Pressure

Posted
on May 19, 2017

According to a 2003 NHTSA report, more than 10,000 non-fatal and 400
fatal accidents occurs each year as a result of flat tires and blowouts.
When there's too much air in the tire, there's a greater risk of a
blowout. The excess pressure "pushes" against the interior tire wall,
increasing the risk of a blowout. And when there's no enough air in the
tire, it also increases the risk of an accident by creating poor
traction with the road and lower fuel economy. So, how do you check the
air in your tires?

Automaker's Recommendation

First,
you'll need to check and see what tire pressure the automaker
recommends. Depending on the make and model car, you can usually find
this information inside the driver-side door jamb. If it's not here,
check the glove compartment or owner's manual.

Air pressure --
when used to measure the pressure in car tires -- is defined as "pounds
per square inch" (PSI). This is essentially the amount of force,
expressed as pounds, within the tire. Make a note of the recommended PSI
for your car's tires, as you'll need to check and make sure it's within
this range.

Steps to Checking Tire Pressure

There are
several different tools for checking tire pressure, including a basic
pop-up meter, as well as a digital gauge. The latter of the two,
however, is the most effective. You can find a digital gauge for about
$10 to $15, which is a small price to pay for your safety.

To use a
digital tire pressure gauge, remove the end cap on the tire's valve
(it's a small plastic piece, usually black). Next, place the gauge into
the valve, gently press down, and hold it for a seconds. This should
reveal the tire's PSI, which you can compare to the automaker's
recommendations. When you are finished, replace the cap.

Under or Overfinalted Tires

If
the PSI in your tires falls within the range recommended by the
automaker, you don't have to take any additional steps. If it's
overfinflated, however, you'll need to release some of the excess
pressure by pushing the valve in. If the PSI is lower than the
automaker's recommendations, you'll need to fill the tire with more air.